LAS CRUCES >> A Doña Ana man suspected of causing serious head injuries to his 5-month-old daughter has been arrested on multiple counts of child abuse.

Jerry M. Marquez, 24, of the 5500 block of north Ledesma Drive in Dona Ana, is charged with four counts of intentional child abuse resulting in great bodily harm, according to a Las Cruces Police Department news release.

Marquez's daughter is recovering from her injuries and is in stable condition at El Paso Children's Hospital.

Shortly before 11 a.m. Friday, Las Cruces Police were dispatched to the 1600 block of Capitan Avenue where a 5-month-old girl was said to be choking or having difficulty breathing. The child was quickly transported to Memorial Medical Center and then University Medical Center of El Paso for more advanced care.

The girl has since been transferred to El Paso Children's Hospital.

Las Cruces Police detectives began investigating the circumstances that led to the young girl's condition and learned that Marquez, on multiple occasions, allegedly dropped his daughter or otherwise struck the child's head against furniture. Marquez is also suspected of shaking the girl out of frustration.

Detectives learned that late Tuesday evening Marquez called his girlfriend, the child's mother, and said he was going to commit suicide. Marquez was located at the Capitan Avenue residence and transported to a local hospital.

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Marquez was subsequently arrested Wednesday morning and booked into the Doña Ana County Detention Center with a cash-only bond set at $150,000.

A search of online New Mexico court records showed no previous violent charges against Marquez.